Local Natives are not from Brooklyn

Kyle Johnson (from artists' Myspace) Local NativesSTATEN ISLAND, NY--But you might think they were, because at first blush, Local Natives dress like Williamsburg and sound like Grizzly Bear. However, upon closer examination, this band is of course neither. Amidst two sold out shows at Bowery Ballroom and various other appearances, the band took the time to play "Soundcheck" yesterday, and despite my personal aversion for John Schaefer's voice, the performance and interview were both really enjoyable. Same goes for their "Late Late Show" performance of song "Airplanes."

Whatever this multi-singer, folk-loving, auxiliary percussion-festooned trend is, I find it's practitioners to often be dubious. Like anything else, there is a whole wave of this idea and only some of it really passes the stink test. Do you ever get those moments, when listening to one-hit wonders from the 80s that in retrospect were sooooo bad, where you wonder if in several years we're going to look back on the "indie rock" era (assuming they look back at all of course), and think a whole swath of it that seemed good at the time was actually pure hot garbage?

Well, for what it's worth, this band does seem dedicated to putting on a good performance and avoiding needless, fake eccentricity. Granted, I might make a few wardrobe changes, but to each his own I guess.